Folding or cabinet bath-tub



(No Model.) -2 Sheets-Sheet 1. 'I'. ELPICKETT Sv4 J. W. REID.

FOLDING 0R CABINET BATH TUB.

LLVEH'L [1I/50M ...y/.45... l

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

I'. E. BICKBTT 8v J.. W. REID.

FOLDING UB. CABINET BATH TUB. No. 281,255. PatentedJuly 17, 1883A.

W1; SS 5: l l vfxtijrs W -E @Mm/fam' @ym Y AUNiTED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

FRANKLIN H. FICKETT AND JOHN W. REID, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING OR CABlNETBATH-TUB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,255, dated July 17, 1883. Application filed January V15, 1583. (No model.)

Io zZ/l whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANKLIN H. FICKETT and JOHN W. REU), bot-h of Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stat-e of Illinois, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements in Folding or Cabinet Bath-Tubs; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which our invention relates to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which- Figure l represents a side sectional eleva.- tion, showing the bath-tub down, with its hinged base g attached. Fig. 2 represents a side sectional elevation with the bath-tub down, showing the interior cupboard or case, h, in section. Fig. 3 represents the lower or foot end of the bath-tub, showing the improved trap, and also the attached splashers p p. Fig. 4 represents the weighty' with one of its parts j' detached. Fig. 5 represents a front elevation of Fig. 2, the bath-tub being removed.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts.

The nature and object of our invention will fully appear in the following description of the several parts:

In the drawings, a represents the bath-tub, hinged at c; and Zn, the cabinet into 'which it folds or closes. To the upper edge of the foot end of the tub are attached pulleys c", and to the rear side of the cabinetA or wall, about opposite to the pulleys c', are attached pulleys c2, and in the upper end of the weight-chamber s are fixed pulleys cf. To the bottom of the rear wall of the cabinet b are attached ropes Z at t, each of which passes over the pulleys c c2 c, and down on the inner side of the lastmentioned pulleys to a weight, j, to the arms of which the ropes Z are fastened. Said weight j is provided with one or more removable weights, j, constructed as shown, so that any desired number of blocks jnlay be added, so as to properly adjust and balance the resisting Weight c. The weight j plays in a shaft, s, which serves as a guide to it. The front wall of said shaft forms the rear wall of the ease or cabinet Iz.. Said case iills the interior portion of the tub c when folded up, and is provided with doors z' and shelves l 2 3 4, to hold such articles as are used in connection with the bath -tub.

Instead of forming the gas-trap in the box m, as in Ficketts former patents, the curved pipe a plays through the top and in the boX m, as formerly, gas-tight; but the boX m has no other internal mechanism, but discharges directly into the waste-pipef, which is trapped in the usual manner; but to avoid the danger of any gases escaping through the pipe (l, ift is first bent into the forni as shown in Fig. 3, and then the curve c is bent outward, as shown in Fig. 2, so that when the tub is raised the water will not iiow out of the part e, nor will it when the tub is down, thus forniing a sealed trap in whatever position the tub may be. Thus the overiiow-pipe el serves the double purpose of an overflow-pipe and agastrap. v

To keep the tub a level with the raised hinges c and in proper position, a fixed support, k, is attached toit, which also forms a handle by which the tub is drawn down or out for use. Said handles may be made ornamental, and thus add greatly to the beauty and appearance of the apparatus.

In this improved construction the base-board g at the Vfoot of the bath-tub, when erected into its cabinet, forms a part ofthe continuous base-boards around the room, the cabinet being made in a closet or adjoining rooin. Said base-board extends only across the width of the cabinet, and is so hinged at or near the iloor, in any convenient manner, that it may move in and out. The bath-tub and baseboard g are hitched together by a fiat metal strip, o, fastened by pivots at each of its ends,

on which it worksone attached to the bathtub, the other to the end of the base-board, as shown in Fig. l-or hinged thereto in any other convenient manner, and in such radial position to the hinges of the bath-tub and baseboard as will permit the bath-tub to rise and fall, and with it, and throw out the base-board into the horizontal position with the tub, so as to permit the tub to come out, as shown in Fig. l, and in dotted position when the tub is raised, the base-board g then forming a part of the base-board of the room. The hat metal strip o is preferred, because it can, by a simple pin or round nail, be attached to the end of the board g, and thus form ajoint, but it is evident that any other forni of connection attached so as to form joints at the ends, attached,

IOO

respectively, to the tub and base g, will answer the purpose equally well.

Splashers attached to the longitudinal side of the tub may be hinged to the lower edge and made to fold upward, as shown at p, or attached to the upper edge and folded downward, as shown at p. They extend along the entire length of the tub, and are made of any water-proof material, which may or may not be mounted on a frame, and they empty into a drip-pan of the bathtub, as shown in Ficketts former patents, when it is raised. The object of the splashers is to catch any water splashed out of the tub in use upon the walls, carpet, &c.

The arrangement and operation of the cords Z and pulleys c c`2 c3 is such that when the tub is down the weight j exerts its greatest force, and as the tub rises the pulley c deseends below the pulley c2 toward the fastening t, and thus the same weight gradually loses its force on the tub a in about the saine proportion as the tub requires less weight as its outer end passes through the various angles of elevation until it is up, and thus a steady, uniform resistance is given with the same weight, which, when properly balanced, requires little or no other force than that to overcome the friction.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isl l. The tub a, hinged at c, and provided with the pulleys d, the iiXed pulleys c2 c3, and cords l, iixed at t, and weight j, substantially as sp ecified.

2. The tub a, hinged at c, and provided with pulleys c', the fixed pulleys c2 03,"and cords l, fixed at t, and weight j, provided with removable blocks j, substantially as specified.

3. The tub a, hinged at c, and base-board g, hinged upon the iioor, connected by the pivoted strip o, as specified.

4L. In a bathtub, a, hinged at c, and having a discharge-pipe, n, the pipe d, provided with part e, doubly bent, substantially as and for the purpose specied.

5. In a cabinet bath-tub, the folding splashersattached longitudinally to the sides ofthe tub a, below its upper edge, substantially as specified.

FRANKLIN H. FICKETT. JOHN W. REID.

Witnesses:

WM. ZIMMERMAN, JULIUs STERN. 

